Read to Lead: What They’re Saying

Wisconsin State Journal: Support state reading initiative.  No matter how fast and how far technology advances in our public schools, the classic three Rs — reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic — will always be with us.  And one of those important Rs — reading — got a needed boost last week by recommendations from a task force led by Gov. Scott Walker and State Superintendent Tony Evers. Nothing about public education seems to go without controversy in Wisconsin's hyper-charged political environment, stoked last year by Walker's state budget reforms. But if anything deserves strong bipartisan support, it's this initiative to teach more kids to read earlier and more effectively. We urge all those involved — state lawmakers, school administrators, teachers, the teachers union and, of course, parents — to fully embrace these reading recommendations.  Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/support-state-reading-initiative/article_1cf1445a-395f-11e1-8cb0-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1jLnCwdnU

Appleton Post Crescent: Task force on right track for reading. The bad news is that Wisconsin's reading scores have slipped. The good news is that a literacy task force is being proactive in coming up with ways to get us back on top. Read to Lead, a group led by Gov. Scott Walker and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, has come up with ways to improve literacy in young students.  We like the task force's attention to getting young students on track, and we hope the measures — which appear to have buy-in from different groups — are implemented.  http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20120112/APC0602/201120348/Editorial-Task-force-right-track-reading

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reading task force ideas should be implemented.  The state should implement ideas to screen kids in kindergarten and to boost teacher training. The reading proficiency of Wisconsin kids is stagnating. If we want to change that, and improve their prospects for a brighter future, we need to pay attention to and implement proposals in a new state report.  The proposals grew out of the Wisconsin Read to Lead Task Force, which was convened last year by Gov. Scott Walker and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers. The task force includes educators, reading experts, elected officials from both parties and philanthropic and nonprofit representatives. So far, reaction to the task force recommendations has been fairly positive, even from the Wisconsin Education Association Council - the state's largest teachers union - which we hope means that the state can make progress in this vitally important area. http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/137068693.html

Sheboygan Press:  'Read to Lead' requires commitment. It is encouraging to see Gov. Walker and state school Superintendent Tony Evers Working together on a plan to improve the reading ability of Wisconsin students. It's no secret that the two men stand on opposite sides of the political spectrum and have differed over cuts in school aid. But the state's downward trend in reading comprehension — based on results from standardized tests — is an area where even the bitterest of political rivals should agree improvement is needed.Last week, Walker and Evers released the "Read to Lead" task force report designed to improve reading scores by bolstering teacher education programs and establishing a tougher reading exam for instructors. The state's new teacher accountability program will include an evaluation based on statewide reading scores.  http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20120113/SHE06/201130358/Editorial-Read-Lead-requires-commitment?odyssey=nav|head